Product Description

A paperback edition of the widely praised book that gives parents for the first time ever a true understanding of what their child with a learning disorder is thinking and feeling.

Winner of the 2002 Margot Marek Annual Book Award for the most outstanding book written for parents or children on the subject of dyslexia or related learning disabilities. (International Dyslexia Association- New York branch)

Dr. Robert Frank, whose own dyslexia didnít stop him from becoming an educator, psychologist, and award-winning author, takes the reader inside the emotions and frustrations of the dyslexic child to help parents coach their child to:
- Improve academic achievement
- Get support from friends and family
- Establish solid work and study habits
- Focus on abilities and strengths
- Set and meet personal goals

Above all, Dr. Frank tells parents the simple steps they can take to help their child build self-esteem and confidence and create a life of success.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #312186 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Frank, an educational psychologist who is himself dyslexic, has written an excellent guide, with the assistance of freelance writer Livingston, that will be of great help to parents of dyslexic children. MRI technology has revealed that this neurological disorder affects a part of the brain "that links the visual cortex and visual association area to the language areas." The authors explain that although dyslexics manifest their disability differently, depending on the severity of the condition, most dyslexic children have trouble with reading, writing, spelling and math in addition to understanding directions. Frank's own experience (he was not diagnosed until he was a graduate student) demonstrates that despite the lack of professional attention to his condition, the parental love and support he received encouraged him to transcend his problems with processing language. He provides here a number of strategies, such as language exercises for non-dyslexics, that will help parents to understand and identify with how their child sees the world. Building self-esteem is the key to helping a dyslexic child overcome overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frustration that may occur when he or she struggles with schoolwork. According to Frank, positive feedback from family and friends is crucial to building self-esteem in a dyslexic child. Included in this very helpful, accessibly written guide are many practical suggestions for working with your child's teacher to create a positive goal-oriented learning environment both at school and at home.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"A clear, comprehensive guide that will help parents handle not only the practical challenges of raising a child with dyslexia, but also the complex emotions that can often stand in the way of successful learning." --Sally Lee, editor-in-chief, Parents magazine "An invaluable, compassionate, yet realistic guidebook to the foreign land that is dyslexia. . . After reading this book, you feel ready to let go of stereotypes and embrace solutions." --Kyle D. Pruett, M.D., clinical professor at Yale Child Study Center and Medical School

A clear, comprehensive guide that will help parents handle not only the practical challenges of raising a child with dyslexia, but also the complex emotions that can often stand in the way of successful learning. (Sally Lee, editor-in-chief, Parents magazine )

An invaluable, compassionate, yet realistic guidebook to the foreign land that is dyslexia. . . After reading this book, you feel ready to let go of stereotypes and embrace solutions. (Kyle D. Pruett, M.D., Yale Child Study Center and Medical )

From the Inside Flap
For the first time ever-- a look inside your child's secret world

Dr. Robert Frank, whose own dyslexia didn't stop him from becoming an educator, psychologist, and author, takes you inside the emotions and frustrations of children with learning disorders.

In Part One, you'll discover what your child never told you about:
* How your child's mind works
* What your child is feeling
* The separate worlds of "Us" and "Them"

In Part Two, you'll walk in your child's shoes to see for yourself:
* What it's like to think like a dyslexic
* What it feels like to be different
* The emotions that can disrupt your child's progress
* How to bridge the gap between your child and others

In Part Three, you'll get a clear picture of:
* The diagnosis of learning disorders
* How your reaction affects your child

In Part Four, you'll receive expert advice to:
* Establish goals for your child
* Create a game plan for success
* Work better with teachers
* Boost self-esteem
* Find success at school, at home, in life

Your child isn't dumb. Your child isn't lazy. Your child is dyslexic...and needs your help.

Your child may need help reading and writing, but more than that, he needs you to understand him. Now you can, as you go inside the emotional life of children with learning differences.

In The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child, you'll finally discover what your child goes through every day. You will come to understand his struggles with things you take for granted, such as reading, writing, memory, and following directions. What's more, you will learn, step by step, the best ways to help him reach his true potential.

For the first time, you'll truly understand:
* The frustration of studying hard but getting poor grades
* The aggravation of taking forever to complete tasks that others finish quickly
* The fear of public embarrassment

Above all, you'll learn the simple steps you can take to help your child:
* Build self-esteem
* Create a life of success
* Be happy and confident

Your child's bright future starts with understanding his secret life!

Robert Frank, Ph.D., is an educational psychologist, family therapist, and assistant professor of psychology at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois. His dyslexia was undiagnosed until graduate school. He is married and the father of two children.

Customer Reviews

Understand your child
If you want to know what your child goes through daily this is the book for you. It opens your eyes to the little things that are big problems to someone with Dyslexia. I could not put it down it should be required reading fo every parent of a Dyslexic cchild.

Insightful, but perhaps not complete
I am a special needs teacher, supporting children, mainly with dyslexia, from home. I am also mother to a dyslexic son, wife to a dyslexic husband and sister to a dyslexic brother... and no, I'm not dyslexic myself... just a bad typist.
I felt the book should be obligatory reading for all people who come into contact with dyslexic people, and especially for parents and teachers. It gives you great insight into the emotions of - I would guess - quite a few dyslexic people. HOWEVER!!!!! The disorganisation may not be dyslexia. It could point to yet another problem, namely Attention Deficiency Disorder (ADHD type 1, unattentive).
So, the book is brilliant as far as it goes, but I honestly feel it can lull parents into a false sense of security about why their children are so forgetful, chaotic, easily distracted etc. If your child has sooo many of these symptoms of disorganisation, have it checked for ADD! But read the book anyway, as the emotions of your child don't really change.

Misleading ...

We had a lot of trouble getting through this book ... being a grandmother of a couple of dyslexic children and a teacher, it was very disturbing that the general assumption was that dyslexia is some horrendous condition for which there is no hope of ever overcoming - just ideas of how to live with it. If this is the only book you read about this topic, you'll leave depressed. I'm ever so grateful that we read The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis BEFORE this one. So much so, that I will not even give my copy of "The secret life of the dyslexic child" away ... not even to the thrift store.